Prototype M6 with electronic shutter, produced 1981 from a design of Peter Loseries,
using the Minolta XD-7 main chassis including the Seiko-shutter, which was already
used for the Leica R4. The mirror-reflex-housing and the penta prism was cut off,
a M-rangefinder was built in. The result was a M-Leica with TTL meter and automatic
exposure control. The camera could be used with data back and R4 motor drives. The
so-called "M6 electronic" was finished by late 1981 and only four complete
prototypes were produced.

None of these remained at Leica company and only two
of them are known to exist. The M6 which finally went to production in 1984 was completely
different from this first concept. The offered prototype is engraved with prototype
number 12345678. It comes with prototype motor winder no. 000008 and a very unusual
prototype Elmarit-M 2.8/28mm. This lens with prototype no. 5001632 has a very compact
design and a built-in square hood. It was constructed by Rolf Crema - only two of
these lenses were assembled. It never went in production. The outfit is in excellent
condition and was never offered at an auction before. (no. 12345678, 1981). Overall,
this hybrid LEICA camera has a mix of features of M6 (marking), R4 (electornic) but
the exterior was more leaning towards the LEICA M5 appearance.

This "hybrid" looking LEICA M6 Prototype was
first surfaced in a Leicashop® moderated Live Auction a couple of years back
and deeply nested in a the archive. It was quite fortunate that be able to find this
exrremely rare camera. Sumilarly, the rarity of this M6 has an astonishing Auction
start price of EURO 40,000-00 while the hammer price was quoted at EURO
60,000-00 !*